Too cool for Quiltcon

The e-mails saying if your quilt is accepted or rejected to the Quiltcon show were send last night (for Americans it was just an ordinary afternoon, for people living in Europe it was a starry night).

My quilt was rejected.

I was expecting this.

Not because there were over 1800 of entries. Not because there were many outstanding quilts submitted (this is the official 'justification' from MQG e-mail). Not because there were quilts better, more beautiful than mine or I don't know what more than mine.

My quilt was rejected, because it was too cool for Quiltcon.(I didn't figure it out by myslef - such lovely words I read on IG and Alison @ Little Island Quilting is the author of it).
My quilt is unique. It was based on a brilliant concept and has a story. I've seen some accepted quilts and I don't like many of them. I've seen also some rejected which I found ugly or at least not interesting and I felt that mine should be hanging on Quiltcon not theirs.

If your quilt was rejected too and you don't have the same feelings about your quilt, stop quilting.
If your quilt was accepted and you feel that it's better than the rest because it was selected, stop quilting.

Quilting is not for people who stop loving their quilts, because some judges didn't like it or for people who are loving their quilts only because some judges like it.

And I don't think that it is necessary to tell you for what type of people quilting is. These two above theses tell all.

You may find my words not appropriate, too honest, too cocky, but please, before judging me, look deep down to your heart and answer the question if anyone should feel that their quilt is not good enough. Or if anyone should not like the quilt she/he is proud of.

Last, but not least, remember that in competition judges always reject (right before finals) things or people who could be judged by the audience as winners and could threaten the things or people who meet organizator's criteria:)
(seriously - just watch any of the competition tv series!)

So my quilt is too cool for Quiltcon (I have no reasons not to believe Alison). Just read her post from last year (HERE) and you'll understand a lot!

From the very beginning of Quiltcon history, I read many posts about it, about judges, about how they job is difficult, about rejected quilts and what should feel or do quilters dealing with rejection.

I've got some short thoughts about it and I would love to share it with you (randlomly):

- judges don't have a hard task to do, they are always 3 - the potential 'responsibility' for bad mood of authors of rejected quilts is fuzzy, actually there is no responsibility, a judge always can say that other judges didn't like your quilt or I like your quilt, but it didn't meet criteria settled by MQG or (my favorite) there were so many quilts... Or another favorite: this is a key of judging, some quilts have to be rejected;

- rejection is always personal, if your quilt is being judged by a man (not by computer or SI), it is always about personal likes or dislikes, even when judge has some criteria to follow. In the end always personal opinions prevail. And if someone doesn't like your quilt or likes other more - it is personal (people who think that personal is bad are mistaken - having your own taste is natural, isn't it?);

- once a former Quiltcon judge ask people to make a simple excercise and try to exclude some quilts from being selected and replaced it with rejected quilts. I think it was easy-peasy task, because we all have our own likes and dislikes. The harder part would be revealing such choices. Why? Because all of us are just quilters, each one would publish such choices alone, not in the company of other judges (the key are the above remarks about 'responsibility') and noone wants to say out loud that she (or he) doesn't like this particular quilt. Being a judge and rejecting many quilts in simpler than choosing one or two and tell everyone that it's not good enough / interesting / lovely;

- last year we were sharing (in the private group) some general remarks about Quiltcon entries, that there were not many original (in design) or outstanding quilts, but there were many quilts like many others showed on the internet - made technically very precisely and well quilted (usually by long-arm quilters), but still without any idea behind it. We all were wondering what is the reason of it: aren't there any quilts that have WOW-factor? Or are there such strict criteria that such quilts don't make a cut? I think that it everything depends what is the goal of people organizing quilt show and simply their choices; and of course on our likes and dislikes!

- some of the judges feedback after last year's Quiltcon was that it's not about making a quilt that was based on Pinterest picture. I couldn't agree more, but seeing a lot of such quilts accepted to the show (with very well-known patterns from other areas of design), it's hard to believe that it was honest opinion;

- I have got more to share, but now I simply forgot about it - I may add some points later:)

Oh, I forgot to mention, that this post contains my personal opinions (it should be obvious, but anyway it's worth saying). You may like it or not, agree with it or not, but you should respect it (whatever it means to the common customs;).
If you don't like my quilt - don't hesitate to put it in the comments! I totally respect that. It won't change my opinion about my quilt, but your opinion about the rest (judging, Quiltcon etc.) might made me change my mind. I'm only human, very emotional human and I can be simply wrong.

PS. And yes, I cried. Like a baby:) but I get over it very fast (I was even surprised that I didn't spend whole night crying and worrying that I'm a bummer!). I think that my experience in taking failures like a man is growing:) even though I am now more sensitive than I was in the past.
PS. Oh, and I suddenly have an idea for another Quiltcon quilt. And it's brilliant, because the idea behind it will make me happy no matter if it is selected or not (so if I have a time, I will make it - will see).
PS. I promise, it's a last PS:) I didn't even get the original notice from MQG - it was lost somewhere (not in spam folder), so I find out about rejection from a second copy (first forwarded message was also lost!). I think this was the sign that they were wrong about rejecting my quilt:))))))))))

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lovely comments / miłych komentarzy:

This is a wonderful post, I think your quilt is stunning but that's my opinion and that's what is beautiful, we all like different things and even ugly quilts are loved by someone ;-) Can't wait to find out about your quilt idea for Quiltcon...

Mine was also not accepted but I LOVE it :-) and I do not care, actually, I prefer it to be hanging at home... I was not disappointed to the point of having tears, but it just was a thought of being too "modern" or "innovative"... LOL So let's go on with our work and be proud of it!

I think it's the same here in the UK, many times you wonder why quilts got in and it's generally the public choice award that shows which are the better design and construction.Well done in any case for achieving the status of being too cool for Quiltcon!The fact you made the quilt up and love it, to me, is the real beauty of a quilt oh and if it's lovely to hug or to look at on a wall too!Perhaps we crave acceptance for our own reasons but frankly, your a star girl, and most who follow your work and ideas would agree I reckon!Oh and don't get me started on the likes of Kirstie Allsop winning entries in things she enters on to - breezing in with cameras and being given like an 'honorary' first place! lol

Well said! I don't know what the criteria is for judging quilts are at QuiltCon, but I think it may be a little biased. I thought they weren't supposed to know who made the quilts, etc before choosing. I think a lot of favoritism goes on and also, the popular girl syndrome. I have never entered a quilt in a show as yet (except at a quilt shop, took a class and the shop wanted to show all our quilts from the class). I just wanted it home with me, itwas the first I'd made just for me and I didn't really care if anyone liked it. I don't make quilts with the idea of anyone liking it ~ just me and person I'm giving it to.I admire your honesty so much ~ to make it public is brave and I still don't know what they were thinking by not accepting yours!